Luna learned two things very quickly.
One — Kael Duskbane had absolutely no chill.
Two — training with a vampire was less "fun montage" and more "near-death
experience."
"Dodge," Kael said.
"I am dodging!" Luna shouted as a blade of dark energy sliced past her ear, burning a lock of hair.
"That was screaming," he replied. "Not dodging."
She glared. "Excuse me for expressing emotion while almost dying."
Kael stood across the training hall, arms crossed, expression unreadable. The chamber was massive — black stone floors, glowing sigils etched into the walls, and a faint hum of magic in the air.
"You're too slow," he said.
"I was emotionally prepared for this insult, but it still hurts."
He moved before she could blink.
One moment he was across the room — the next, he was right in front of her.
Luna yelped.
"Personal space! Ever heard of it?"
"You won't survive if you can't react faster,"
Kael said calmly.
She folded her arms. "I survived the demon dogs, the curse, and your personality."
He raised an eyebrow.
"That last one is the real challenge," she added.
Kael turned away.
"Again."
She sighed. "You know, normal teachers say 'good job' sometimes."
"I'm not a normal teacher."
"Shocking."
He lifted his hand. Shadows twisted in the air, forming three dark figures — illusion constructs with glowing red eyes.
"They won't kill you," he said. "But they'll hurt."
"That's not comforting!"
The illusions lunged.
Luna dodged the first, ducked under the second, and accidentally tripped over her own foot.
"Okay, rude," she muttered to the floor.
She rolled just in time to avoid a claw slicing through where her head had been.
"Alright, fine," she growled. "Let's dance."
Purple magic flared around her hands. She sent a wave of energy forward, blasting one illusion into smoke.
The second leaped at her. Luna threw up a shield, but the force knocked her backward into the wall.
She slid down, breath knocked out of her lungs.
Kael appeared instantly.
"Get up."
"I would love to," she wheezed. "If my lungs weren't on vacation."
He extended a hand.
She stared at it. "…Is this a trap?"
"No."
"…A murder attempt?"
"No."
"…Emotional manipulation?"
"No."
She took his hand.
The moment their skin touched, a surge of heat rushed through her chest — sharp, intense, almost electric.
She gasped.
Kael stiffened.
For a split second, neither of them moved.
Then he pulled her to her feet far too quickly.
"Don't hesitate," he said sharply. "Hesitation will get you killed."
She stared at him. "You felt that too, didn't you?"
He didn't answer.
But his jaw tightened.
She smirked. "Good. I was worried I was just emotionally unstable."
Kael turned away.
"Focus."
The illusions attacked again.
This time, Luna didn't hesitate.
She dodged, spun, and slammed her palm into the floor, sending a ripple of energy outward that shattered both constructs.
She stood there, breathing hard.
Silence.
Kael studied her.
"Better."
She beamed. "Was that a compliment?
Should I frame this moment?"
He ignored her and walked toward a rack of weapons along the wall.
"Choose," he said.
Luna stared at the display — blades, staffs, chains, daggers, weapons she didn't recognize.
"Wow. Your interior design screams 'emotionally unavailable.'"
He didn't respond.
She reached for a staff — long, silver, etched with runes.
Kael nodded once.
"Good choice."
She twirled it experimentally, nearly smacking herself in the face.
"Nailed it."
Kael sighed — actually sighed — which felt like a small victory.
"Your magic is powerful," he said. "But uncontrolled. You rely on instinct."
"Hey, instinct has gotten me this far."
"Yes," he said flatly. "Into a curse."
She winced. "Okay, that was uncalled for."
He met her gaze.
"You don't fight to win. You fight to survive."
"…Isn't that the same thing?"
"No," he said. "Winning means ending the threat. Surviving means leaving it alive."
She frowned. "So I need to stop being… nice?"
"You need to stop holding back."
That struck something deeper than she expected.
She looked away. "I don't like hurting people."
"They won't show you the same mercy."
She exhaled slowly. "Great. Another moral crisis."
Kael stepped closer.
"Luna."
She looked up.
For the first time, his voice softened.
"If you don't become stronger, the curse will use you. And so will our enemies."
Her humor faded.
"…I don't want to be a weapon."
"You won't be," he said. "You'll be a shield."
She searched his face.
"…For you?"
"For the world," he replied.
She swallowed. "Wow. No pressure, Lord Dramatic."
His lips twitched.
Barely.
Training continued for hours.
She fell. A lot.
She tripped. More.
She complained constantly.
But she also learned.
By the end of the session, sweat soaked her clothes, her muscles screamed, and her magic responded faster, sharper.
She collapsed onto the floor.
"I'm… never… doing this… again."
"You will," Kael said.
She glared. "Let me rest in peace."
Suddenly, a sharp pain flared in her chest.
She gasped, clutching her heart.
Kael froze.
"What's wrong?"
"I— I don't know," she whispered. "It feels like… something's pulling."
The Shadow Sigil on her chest began to glow.
Kael's eyes darkened.
"The curse is reacting."
"To what?" she asked, panic rising.
Before he could answer, a dark voice echoed through the chamber.
"To me."
The shadows twisted, forming a tall figure cloaked in darkness, eyes glowing crimson.
Kael stepped in front of Luna instantly.
"You shouldn't be here."
The figure laughed softly.
"And yet… here I am."
Luna swallowed.
"…Okay," she muttered. "Who invited the evil shadow aesthetic?"
The figure's gaze locked onto her.
"So this is her. The witch bound to your soul."
Kael's fists clenched.
"Stay away from her."
The figure smiled — slow, dangerous.
"Or what, Kael? You'll kill me?"
Luna's heart pounded.
"Kael…" she whispered.
He didn't look back.
"Run."
She hesitated.
"I said—"
Before he could finish, the figure lifted a hand.
Dark energy exploded outward.
Luna screamed as the floor beneath her shattered — and she fell into darkness.
Kael roared her name as she disappeared.
And far below, in the shadows, Luna felt something ancient… awaken.